All Rise...

The Charge

"From a plane crash into an overpass to a massive roadside
cow-tastrophe."

The Case

During Meteor Strike Corey Johnson (How the Earth was Made)
narrates the story of the meteor strike which impacted just outside Chelyabinsk
on February 15, 2013. The last time there was a strike like this was in 1908
outside of Siberia, but then there were few eyewitnesses and thus little
information was gathered. Now, with the population of Russia fully entrenched in
the age of digital media, dozens of videos were captured via on-board dashcams
and cell phones. Additional reports came from eyewitnesses and the many people
sent to the hospital for injuries. What this unprecedented access means is
scientists were able to collect and collate data like never before.

Meteor Strike runs through several key elements of the strike. First
there's the discussion of how big the meteor was, followed by its likely
composition. Next up is the detailing of the meteor's flight path and origin.
Finally, the discussion rounds out with doomsday scenarios and the need to keep
a watch on the skies. To that end, the scientists propose an infrared telescope
be shot into space and rest outside of the sun's gravitational field so as to
observe the asteroid belt and give the folks back on Earth more warning about
collisions like the Chelyabinsk strike.

Like many of its brethren this episode of Nova gives the facts and doesn't care
if they happen to freak the viewer out, as was the case for me watching
Meteor Strike. The facts are that Earth has a potentially catastrophic
strike about once a century but we currently see less than 50 percent of the
asteroids in space which could be headed toward us at any moment. Also
frightening is the lack of any plan if a catastrophic collision is detected.
Thanks, Nova for fueling my nightmares. It's extremely informative and
educational and the hour flew by, but I'll never look at a shooting star the
same way.

The video is strong and the palette is deep and clear, specifically timed to
showcase the computer graphics used to illustrate the meteor's projected path
and the like. I was especially impressed with the strength and clarity of the
many clips from cell phones and the internet that were used. The audio was hit
and miss but that's largely dependent on where it was captured, be it inside or
outside. Nonetheless it was audible, and subtitles are available if you really
struggle.

There were no special features.

Though I do enjoy Nova an awful lot and found myself educated by
Meteor Strike I don't think a purchase is necessary. Look for it on your
local PBS station.